Bellarmine University exceeded its undergraduate enrollment goal for this fall’s incoming first-year class ahead of May 1, National College Decision Day, signaling strong momentum for the 2025-26 academic year.
Bellarmine has 605 confirmed first-year undergraduate students as of May 1, a 36.6% year-over-year increase in confirmations. This is the university’s highest total for Decision Day confirmations since 2019.
Notably, the university also saw major gains in both enrollment and FAFSA completions from the Louisville area. As of May 1, 89% of confirmed students had filed a FAFSA, a return to pre-pandemic application patterns and a signal that more students are
taking advantage of Bellarmine’s generous financial aid offerings.
Bellarmine’s president, Dr. Susan M. Donovan, noted that the university has a strategic commitment to providing students with access and affordability. “These results reflect our entire community’s dedication to making a Bellarmine education
both accessible and transformative,” she said. “Through initiatives like Bellarmine Direct and our commitment to affordability, we’re reaching more students who are ready to thrive at Bellarmine and in the world beyond.”
The university’s Bridge to BU summer program – a college readiness initiative for provisionally admitted students – saw a 45.5% increase in confirmed participants, with approximately 40 students expected to matriculate into the
full student body this fall. Those students are not yet counted among the 605 confirmations.
Local recruitment efforts paid off in a big way. Net confirmations from schools in Louisville surged 85% over last year, and top local feeder schools saw a 73% year-over-year increase in net confirmations. Confirmations from Archdiocese of Louisville
schools are up 54% over last year. Nearly one-fourth of confirmations from Louisville came through the university’s new Bellarmine Direct initiative, a streamlined admission process offering automatic admission and significant scholarships to
qualified local students to help keep them in Louisville for college and beyond.
"We’re excited by these early results and proud of the work our teams have done to grow our class," said Lauren Keeling, vice president for Enrollment, Marketing and Communication. “We know these numbers will shift back and forth over the
summer as more students see the advantage of a Bellarmine education and others change their plans, but the trends are incredibly encouraging. Our strategy is working and the value of a Bellarmine degree is resonating.”
According to Keeling, the incoming class also shows increases in housing deposits, campus visits, and representation from first-generation and international students.
Bellarmine will continue to welcome additional incoming students ahead of the fall semester launch. Students who are interested in pursuing a path to Bellarmine can
view an estimated scholarship today.
Graduate School Enrollment
While Decision Day is an undergraduate enrollment milestone, Bellarmine’s graduate programs with summer start dates are also showing growth. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program began this week with 58 students enrolled,
up 66% year over year. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will welcome 74 new students, a 6% increase over last year, and the Annsley Frazier Thornton School of Education will experience a year-over-year increase of at least 10 students
in its summer cohorts.